The calm before the storm....

The weather called for a big storm to hit the island. Flood warnings, high wind advisories, and the biggest storm on record to come, had us evacuate our homes and camp at the school for a couple days. As a native put it, "The teachers are on the front line." meaning the teacher housing is the first thing those tidal waves would see, located the closest to the shore. The warnings were in effect from 1pm Tuesday, Nov. 8 - Wednesday at midnight. 

 

But were back at school now and everyone is ok; the waves did not even come close to our housing - thank goodness! There ended up being more damage in Nome and some of our other district villages on the mainland...

 

 

This was the beginning of the storm, it was a white out

Derek and Ty on the Honda. Derek loves his Musher Boots!

Luna at school !  She was so brave during the evacuation.

We found out that most of our students have never seen a cat before, that there aren't any in Gambell, so we let our student sneak a peak...he loved her !

Derek went out to check out the storm at 9:30am

We went out together at sunrise

11:30am

We were headed towards the beach to check out the massive waves, and one of our co-worker was at home standing on her porch taking pictures of us !

This was at noon on the beach with co-workers.  On the 4-wheeeler- Bria, Deb our principal, her husband Greg, standing in the middle is Donald, more right - Lacy in red, Derek far right taking a picture in the orange coat

We got a video of the craziness - I was filming at first, but I couldn't hold the camera steady because it was so windy - so when Derek takes over it gets a little easier to watch :)

For some reason the link wont work if you click on it, but it will if you copy and paste it into the adress bar!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbl3HF2OnnA

It wasn't raining but we got wet !!!

Detailed weather report from weather underground:

St Lawrence Island and Bering Strait Coast

Coastal Flood Warning

Statement as of 5:27 AM AKST on November 08, 2011

... Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect from 1 PM this
afternoon to midnight akst Wednesday night...

A coastal Flood Warning remains in effect from 1 PM this
afternoon to midnight akst Wednesday night.

* Location... on the Bering Strait coast and on the south and
west coasts of Saint Lawrence Island. This warning includes
Little Diomede Island.

* Impacts... major coastal flooding and severe beach erosion is
expected on south and west facing coasts of St Lawrence Island
and along the Bering Strait coast. Sea levels rising 8 to 10
feet above normal combined with high waves will push water
onshore and flood low lying areas near the coast. This will
threaten the low lying portions of Little Diomede... Teller...
Brevig Mission... Wales... and the Airport at Gambell. Wind
speeds of 50 to 70 mph with gusts to 90 mph are expected.

* Timing... winds and seas will increase rapidly Tuesday
afternoon. Major coastal flooding and severe beach erosion are
expected from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday night.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A coastal Flood Warning means that rising sea water that causes
flooding is expected. This will be one of the most severe storms
on record. Coastal residents in the warned area need to begin to
take precautions now to protect life and property... and be on the
alert for rising water levels. Do not delay in taking needed
precautions for this unusually severe and life threatening storm.

High Wind Warning

Statement as of 5:43 AM AKST on November 08, 2011

... High Wind Warning remains in effect from noon today to noon
akst Wednesday...

* wind... winds 60 to 75 mph with higher gusts. Strongest winds
near Savoonga.

* Timing... southeast winds will increase to 40 to 60 mph Tuesday
afternoon and to 60 to 75 mph Tuesday evening. Winds shifting
to south late Tuesday night and to southwest Wednesday
morning.

* Impacts... travel outdoors will be very difficult and dangerous
during this storm.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A High Wind Warning means hazardous high winds are occurring or
expected. Take precautions to protect life and prevent property
damage.

Special Weather Statement

Statement as of 4:14 PM AKST on November 07, 2011

... Severe Bering Sea storm expected Tuesday night through Wednesday...

A rapidly developing storm located about 600 miles southwest
of Shemya this afternoon will intensify into one of the
most severe Bering Sea storms on record as it moves northward
across the chukotsk peninsula Tuesday night. This storm
has the potential to produce widespread damage.

The storm will produce widespread winds of 40 to 55 mph
with higher gusts over the West Coast Tuesday night into
Wednesday evening. Strong west winds are expected to continue
over St Lawrence Island Wednesday night. Gusts to 70 mph can be
expected along the chukotsk peninsula and in areas near Kotzebue.
Winds of 60 to 75 mph are expected over St Lawrence Island and
the Bering Strait coast. Winds are expected to approach hurricane
force over the Chukchi Sea and northern Bering Sea. The strong
winds will generate seas to as high as 20 feet over the Chukchi
Sea... and to 15 to 25 feet over the northern Bering Sea.

The strong winds will push large amounts of water into Norton
Sound... raising sea levels to as high as 8 to 9 feet above normal
Tuesday night through Wednesday night. The high sea levels
combined with high waves will produce severe beach erosion and
major coastal flooding along the northern and Eastern Shores of
Norton Sound and along the Bering Strait coast. High water
levels will produce coastal flooding along the southern
shore of Norton Sound. Strong winds and wave action may push
ice in Norton Bay on shore.

Moderately elevated sea levels and high waves will cause
severe beach erosion and major coastal flooding along the
south and west facing coasts of St Lawrence Island Tuesday
through Wednesday night.

Along the Chukchi Sea coast from Cape Krusenstern northwest...
southeast winds gusting to a high as 70 mph will produce high
waves and some elevation of sea levels... resulting in severe
beach erosion and major coastal flooding. The Village of
Kivalina will be highly vulnerable to damage caused by
beach erosion and coastal flooding.

The storm will also produce significant snowfall and blizzard
conditions over almost all of the West Coast Tuesday night
and Wednesday. Snowfall amounts of as much as 14 inches
are expected along the southern Seward Peninsula coast and
in parts of the interior Seward Peninsula.

Again... this is an extremely dangerous and life threatening
storm which will be one of the worst on record over the Bering
Sea and the West Coast.